Jar clamp



C. H. M COLGAN JAR CLAMP Filed Aug. 25, 1934 Patented Dec. 15, 1936 JAR CLAIVI]? Charles H. McColgan, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Application August 25,

6 Claims.

. The present invention relates to jar holding devices and the primary object of the invention is to provide a jar clamp having a construction whereby a jar may be rigidly held against rotation so as to permit either placing or removal of a threaded closure cap or cover thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jar clamp wherein the base portion of a jar willbe automatically gripped to prevent turning of the jar when either placing or removing the cover therefrom, and automatically released by a slight turn of the jar.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is of substantially flat formation so as to permit storing away of the device in a comparativelysmall space when not in use, and which device when in use, co-acts with an edge of a table top or similar flat surface in a manner to hold the device in position for use.

A further object is to provide a jar clamp which is reversible to adapt the clamp for use in either placing or removing the jar top, and which clamp may be very economically manufactured owing to its particular construction.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character which will not become heated to any appreciable extent when used for a considerable length of time for holding jars filled with hot commodities and one wherein both hands of the operator are free to apply the cover direct, or to use a suitable gripping device for tightening the cover.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:

Figure ,1 is a perspective view of the improved jarclamp or holder in position for use upon a table top or the like and showing the jar held thereby in a manner to permit placing of a threaded cover thereon.

Figure2 is a perspective view showing the jar clamp reversed or'turned over as when being used for removing a threaded cover from the jar.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section thru the jar clamp in a plane parallel to the major plane of the clamp.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In the drawing, and wherein like refereno characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views; the letter A designates as a whole the improved jar clamp or holder adapted for positioning upon a flat surface such as a table 1934, Serial No. 741,475

or bench top as indicated at B. The letter C designates a jar having a screw threaded upper end for receiving a screw threaded closure cap or cover D.

The jar clamp A comprises a thin, broad, flat, rectangular-shaped base or main body member 5' which is preferably formed of Wood and having the grain of the wood running lengthwise of the body member. Secured along the rear edge of the body member 5 is a T-shaped cleat 6 having a tongue and groove joint with the member 5 and having its edges extending flush with the opposite faces of the body member. The body memher 5 is formed with an elongated opening I having its major dimension extending lengthwise of thebody member midway between the side edges thereof. The rear end portion of the opening I is of semi-circular shape in formation as indicated at 8 and terminates inwardly of the rear edge of the body member, while the forward end portion 9 of the opening preferably has its side edgesconverging toward thefront or forward edge of the body member. The forward end of the opening 1 opens at the front edge of the body member providing a substantially U-shaped body member, and this arrangement of having the opening extend to one endvof the body member allows for ready cutting of the opening 1 as'upon a band saw. The semi-circular end portion 8 of the opening i provides a jar receiving portion and is preferably lined with a gripping strip ill of corrugated rubber or any other suitable material capable of producing a gripping action upon the base-portion of the jar C so as to resist turning the jar when the jar is urged into engagement with the strip.

Provided with a tongue and groove joint connection with the front edge of the body member 5, is a T-shaped holding strip ll providing stop flanges l2 projecting beyond each flat face of the body member so as to engage against an edge of the table or bench top 3 when the jar clamp is in either of the reverse positions as shown in Figures 1 and Z. The holding strip ll extends along the forward end of the body member 5 and bridges the open end of the opening I. Retaining screws It are threaded thru the end portions of the holding strip H and into the arm portions !3 of the body member 5 at opposite sides of the opening 1 and as will be observed in Figure 3, the converging forward end portion 9 of the opening provides substantial portions at the forward end of the body member arms l3 for receiving the retaining screws M.

Thus it will be seen that the cleats 6 and holding strip I l strengthen the ends of the body member and prevent warping. The holding strip II aside from forming a connection for the forward end of the arm portions 13 also forms stop flanges which when engaging an edge of the top B act to prevent turning of the clamp.

Arranged in the forwardly converging portion 9 of the opening a is a cam member or jaw I 5 which is also preferably formed of wood and has a thickness equal to the thickness of the body member 5. This cam member I5 is pivoted at its forward end upon a web member I6 formed of a suitable gauge sheet metal and secured to extend across the forward end of the Opening 1 midway between the up-per and lower faces of the body member. This sheet metal web member i6 is adapted to be held in position thru attachment of the holding strip II to the body member 5, and as shown more clearly in Figure 4 is disposed midway between the opposite flat faces of the body member. The tongue or stem of the T-shaped holding strip l I is longitudinally slotted at its central portion as at I! to receive the forward edge of the web I6, while the arm portions I3 are each slotted adjacent the opening portion 9 as at I8 for receiving end portions of the web. These slots l8 have their base edges converging rearwardly for engagement with correspondingly converging edges on the web It, whereby rearward movement of the web is limited. Forward movement of the web member is limited thru engagement with the base of the slot l1, and as will be noted in Figure 3 the end of the web members terminate inwardly of the retaining screws M. The cam I5 is slotted as at IQ for receiving the web I6 whereby the cam may be pivoted upon the web as by a pivot pin or screw 28 and has swinging movement transversely of the opening 1 between the arm portions !3.

The head or free end of the cam 15 is formed with a cam edge 2! which is preferably covered with a strip of corrugated rubber or the like 22 adapted to frictionally engage the jar C and urge the jar toward the semi-circular shaped end 8 of the opening 1. Each face of the cam 15 adjacent the free end of the cam is provided with a recess 23 providing finger grips for swinging the cam into engagement with the jar. The cam I5 is also preferably provided on opposite sides with the markings on and off as shown in Figures 1 and 2 for indicating the proper side of the clamp to be disposed uppermost. When the marking on appears as in Figure 1, the clamp is in a position for applying the cap, and when the marking off is exposed as in Figure 2, the clamp is in its proper position for removing the cover from the jar.

In use of the device for applying the cap D to the jar C, the device is placed upon a table top or other flat surface in the position shown in Figure 1 with one of the stop flanges I2 engaging upon the edge of the table top. The jar is then placed in the rear semi-circular shaped end of the opening I and by placing ones finger in the recess 23 the cam 16 is moved into engagement with the jar. The cap D may then be screwed on the jar and when the cap is turned tight, any tendency of the jar to rotate in a clockwise direction, considering Figure- 3, will swing the free end of the cam l5 toward the left and firmly press the jar against the gripping strip l so that the jar is rigidly held against rotation. When removing the cover from the jar, the device is placed in the position shown in Figure 2 whereby any tendency of the jar to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction causes the cam to more firmly grip the jar and prevent rotation thereof. Thus it will be seen that by merely reversing or turning the device, the cover may either be placed or removed from the jar and the operator has both hands free to apply the turning force to the cap. While if so desired, the device may be clampet to the table top, it has been found in use, that the device will work very satisfactorily by being simply laid on a flat shelf or table top and held in place during use by the stop flanges l2.

It will be observed that the device grips a jar about the base portion of the jar where there is little, if any, danger of breaking the jar by the gripping action of the device upon the jar. When desiring to release the jar from the holding device it is merely necessary to impart slight turning to the jar, say in a counter-clockwise direction considering Figure 3, to automatically swing the cam toward the right and release the jar.

While the device has been described as preferably being constructed in its major portions of wood because of neatness and low heat conduction qualities it is to be understood that various other forms of material may be employed in the construction of the device.

Changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A jar clamp comprising a flat body member having an elongated opening therethru, a pivoted cam member in one end of the opening for gripping engagement with the base portion of the jar inserted into the other end of the opening from either face of the body member, and a holding strip along one edge of the body member and projecting beyond each face thereof.

2. A jar clamp comprising a flat body member having an elongated opening therethru formed at one end with a semi-circular jar receiving portion, a pivoted cam member in the other end of the opening and having a cam edge at its free end co-acting with said jar receiving portion for gripping a jar therebetween, and a holding strip secured along one edge of the body member and providing stop flanges projecting beyond the plane of each face of the body member.

3. A jar clamp comprising a flat wooden body member having an elongated opening therethru and opening at the front edge of the body mem ber, a holding strip securedalong the front edge of the body member and providing stop flanges projecting beyond each face of the body member, a web member retained in position across the forward end of the opening midway between the opposite faces of the body member, and a cam member pivoted on said Web member for swinging movement laterally in said opening.

4. A jar clamp comprising a flat wooden body member having an elongated opening therethru, a holding strip along the front edge of the body member and providing stop flanges projecting beyond each face of the body member, a sheet metal web member retained in position across the forward end of the opening by said holding strip, a cam member having a slotted end for receiving said web member, and a pivot connecting the cam member to said web member, said cam member having a thickness no greater than the thickness of said body member.

5. A jar clamp comprising a flat body member having an opening therethru for receiving at one end, the base portion of a jar, a thin web member extending across the other end of the opening midway between opposite faces of the body member, a cam member slotted at one end to receive the web member and provided at its other end with a cam edge, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the cam member to the web member, and a finger gripping recess provided on each side of the cam member.

6. A jar clamp comprising a flat, U-shaped wooden body member providing a pair of spaced apart arms forming an opening, a holding strip connecting the free ends of said arms and projecting beyond opposite faces of the body member, and a cam member pivotally mounted between the arms at one end of said opening.

CHARLES H. MCCOLGAN. 

